Star Slugs

Star Slugs (genus Sphearalimax, spinning slug) are a descendent of leopard slugs that can be found in the siberian glow caves.

Biology

Star slugs measure at about 6 inches in length and 2 inches in width with about .75 inches in height. These proportions allow it to have a wider surface area of slime to keep itself stuck to the roof of a cave. They produce thick, glue-like slime on their foot to keep itself from falling and to preform the mating ritual with another star slug.

They have pretty good eyesight and incredibly strong feelers. These feelers allow them to sniff around the cave for their primary food source, the glowing cave mushrooms. Luciferase from the mushrooms is used by the slug to make its spots glow a bright white color, being the closest thing to stars in the caves. These glowing spots vary and no slugs spots are the same, they are also an important part of the star slug mating ritual.

Behavior

Star slugs are solitary, but constantly come in contact with each other to mate and to look for food.

Star slugs are hermaphrodites just like other slugs. Their mating ritual consists of 2 slugs meeting up and encasing both of them in a slime cocoon on the cave roof and mating. As they mate, the slime cocoon spins around on a thick strand of slime, creating a sort of disgusting disco ball. Both parents are fertilized and lay a string of thousands of eggs across the ceiling. These eggs also contain luciferase as well as a disgusting taste. These eggs hatch but only 2 survive to adulthood.

Mating season is yearround.